New Dormitory at Pingtung's Mudan Junior High Completed, Easing Commute for Teachers in Remote Area

(CNA, Pingtung County, 21st) The original dormitory at Pingtung County's Mudan Junior High School was old and dilapidated, forcing teachers to rent housing off-site and commute in the dark, which added to their financial burden. The county government planned and constructed a new building, which was completed after a nearly two-year construction period. An inauguration and opening ceremony was held today, with the hope that teachers in the remote area will be able to settle in and continue their service. Mudan Junior High School is designated by the Ministry of Education as an extremely remote school. The original on-campus teacher dormitory had been in use for over 50 years and was decommissioned in 2020 due to its deteriorating structure and facilities. For years, teachers had no choice but to rent apartments in places like Checheng and Hengchun. This not only increased their transportation and living costs but also made teacher retention a formidable challenge. Consequently, students had to repeatedly adapt to new teachers, making it difficult to establish long-term, stable learning and mentorship relationships. Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi stated that to improve the educational predicament in remote areas, the county government secured funding from the Ministry of Education's "2020 Program to Improve Dormitories in Remote Primary and Junior High Schools." Combined with the county's own funds, and with the support of DPP legislator Wu Li-hua and the Pingtung County Council, a total of nearly NT$21.5 million was invested in the new dormitory project. Subsequently, by the end of 2025, an additional subsidy of over NT$1.7 million was successfully secured for interior renovations and equipment purchases. The project experienced several unsuccessful bids before construction finally began smoothly in May 2024, with completion and move-in occurring in March of this year. Chou Chun-mi said that the high turnover rate of teachers in remote schools has always been an issue of great concern for the county government. The county continues to promote the "Remote Area Dormitory Improvement Plan," hoping to provide teachers with safe, comfortable living spaces by improving housing conditions. This aims to reduce the pressure of commuting and rent, stabilize teaching quality, provide children in remote areas with continuous and complete learning companionship, and make education a vital force for transforming the local community. Mudan Junior High School Principal Lai Yung-ching said that in the past, teachers had to set out from places like Checheng Township at 6 a.m. every morning, commuting along winding mountain roads just to arrive at school on time for class. If they had after-school tutoring, remedial teaching, or had to accompany students in activities, they often worked until dark before leaving campus, returning to their rented homes as late as 8 p.m. Lai said that one could endure such a life for a day or tolerate it for a month, but for long-term service, it was indeed very hard on the teachers. The new dormitory gives teachers a second home in Mudan, not only saving commute time but also allowing them to devote more energy to teaching and mentoring students. The Pingtung County Government's Department of Education stated in a press release that the new dormitory is designed as a one-story building with a total of 10 single suites. It also includes a common lounge to provide a venue for teacher interaction and professional dialogue. The exterior colors are primarily red, gray, and black, echoing the Pai[wan indigenous culture].